SRINAGAR, Aug 3: Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) has said that the recent discovery of a cross-border ‘underground tunnel’ could impact Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan.
“Such attempts may affect Indo-Pak Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), which are meant to develop trust between the two countries. It is against the CBMs and such attempts will have bad affect on the border as well,” U.K. Bansal told reporters on Thursday.
Bansal was at the Chilyari post in Samba district along the Indo-Pak border to inspect the tunnel which authorities fear could have been used by militants to infiltrate into this side of the border.
However, he said, responsibilities could not be fixed as to who could have dug the tunnel. “But, construction of a 25-ft deep tunnel is not the job of layman. It has to be a handiwork of some
experts”.
Terming the issue as serious and sensitive, the BSF chief said they have given details regarding the tunnel to the Government of India and Defense Ministry, besides lodging a ‘strong protest’ with Pakistani Rangers during a flag meeting.
Authorities had on July 28 detected a 400-mt-long tunnel between India and Pakistan along the border in Samba district, prompting fears that it could have been used by militants to infiltrate into this side of Kashmir.
The tunnel was detected after an area caved-in in a straight line at some places due to rains near fencing close to Chillayari BoP of BSF. The tunnel also had pipes probably for supplying oxygen.
